1. literary works featuring roguish heroes who live by their wits in a corrupt society
Usage: literary term; plural form

Examples

• The professor assigned several picaresques for the Spanish literature course.
• Don Quixote and Lazarillo de Tormes are classic picaresques.
• Modern picaresques often feature antiheroes navigating urban landscapes.
• The library’s collection includes picaresques from various European traditions.
• Students analyzed the social criticism embedded in these picaresques.
• The film adaptation captured the satirical spirit of the original picaresques.